Share

cover art for 93 Tunnel of Focus: Monotropism, Trauma, and Thriving

AuDHD Flourishing

93 Tunnel of Focus: Monotropism, Trauma, and Thriving

•

Thanks Eric Tivers for interviewing me & allowing me to share the full episode here as well.


His show notes:

In this episode of ADHD reWired, Eric Tivers is joined by Mattia Maurée, an award-winning composer, poet, and host of the AuDHD Flourishing Podcast. Mattia shares their insights into the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent (ND) individuals, particularly those with ADHD and autism, as they navigate trauma, self-expression, and what they describe as “attention tunnels.”


Mattia opens up about their personal journey, discussing the impact of complex PTSD, disordered eating, and their late diagnoses of ADHD and autism. They explain how monotropism—having a narrower field of focus—shapes their experience as a ND person. Through the lens of monotropism, Mattia explores how being stuck in an attention tunnel can make transitioning to different tasks or social situations feel overwhelming and distressing.


Eric and Mattia dive deep into the intersections of trauma and neurodivergence, examining how ND brains may be more easily traumatized, especially in environments that fail to meet their unique needs. They discuss the profound impact of ND parents raising ND children and the challenges of navigating systems that don’t support their differences.


This conversation also highlights the importance of self-expression in healing and flourishing. Mattia explains how self-expression, rather than achievement, has become central to their definition of success, emphasizing the importance of creating work that resonates emotionally, even if it doesn’t fit the traditional metrics of success.


Other topics discussed include:

  • The connection between hyperfocus and monotropism in ADHD and autism
  • How Mattia balances creativity, self-care, and flourishing as a ND individual
  • The complexity of navigating trauma in ND families
  • The importance of community and support systems for ND creatives and entrepreneurs


This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the complex interplay of trauma, neurodivergence, and flourishing. Whether you identify as ND or are simply curious about these experiences, this conversation offers valuable insights into the importance of creating space for self-expression, healing, and growth.


Resources:

  1. Transcript Doc
  2. Email Newsletter: Nothing Wrong With Us
  3. Like Your Brain community space (Patreon)


More episodes

View all episodes

  • Your Core Self-Care Need - Repost

    10:02|
    Most people have one or two core self-care needs that, if they're met, everything else feels easier. This episode is about how to figure out yours... and what to look out for when you hear people preaching about their own!There's also acknowledgment that your neurodivergent body and brain may process things in different ways, so the following questions may not be that useful for you.Figuring out your core self-care need or needs (just a jumping-off point!): Thinking back to times in your life when things felt the easiest, what was your life like? Which of your needs were being met fairly well?When life has been a bit easier or better, did you notice any particular ups and downs based on particular needs being met? For example, if you were overall feeling pretty good compared to your baseline, was there anything that particularly threw you off? Or something that could bring you back to that feeling better pretty quickly?Tuning into your body right now, is there anything your body is asking for? This won't necessarily be a core need, it's more a check-in to see what messages your body is already good at giving you.Thinking about the past few days, weeks, or months, are there any messages your body has been consistently giving you? For example, when you've felt tired, does it feel more like you need sleep, or more like you need food, or more like you need to be around another person to recharge? Again, this isn't a perfect metric, just noticing how your body talks to you.Is there any form of self-care that feels like it REALLY fixes a bad day?Resources mentioned: Takedown of Why We Sleep: https://guzey.com/books/why-we-sleep/Commentary on the above post: https://statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2019/11/18/is-matthew-walkers-why-we-sleep-riddled-with-scientific-and-factual-errors/Transcript DocAnd one more link someone sent taking down the book Why We Sleep (I haven’t listened to this episode but the links alone look great): https://open.spotify.com/episode/4r0Vawq8xAfnsnKbYVUNhc?si=n7t-koeuS2GXQ2QnA8j4dQAuDHD Flourishing resources:Transcript Doc Mattia's NewsletterLike Your Brain community space (Patreon/Discord)Repost of ep 11, originally published Aug 18 2023

  • 130 Unclear Discomfort

    11:54|
    it is what it isAuDHD Flourishing resources:Transcript Doc (often a few weeks behind, but we do catch up!)Mattia's NewsletterLike Your Brain community space (Patreon/Discord)

  • 129 Embodied Exercise with Martha Munroe

    01:03:04|
    Martha Munroe, a neurodivergent personal trainer, was noticing patterns in the ways her clients talked about exercise and their bodies. They were often driven by external goals (aesthetics, performance, what others think) vs. the internal experience of movement.She reframes exercise as a way to explore and express through embodiment. Also, reclaiming exercise (not only movement) by offering gentle structure if desired.I loved her book, Attuned Exercise!Connect with Martha: Attuned Exercise websiteMartha's Instagram, @attunedexercisemarthamunroe.comAlso mentioned in episode (book I'm reading): Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against ThemselvesAuDHD Flourishing resources:Transcript Doc (often a few weeks behind, but we do catch up!)Mattia's NewsletterLike Your Brain community space (Patreon/Discord)book links are affiliate links

  • 128 AuDHD Parenting

    24:38|
    Parenting as an AuDHDer is challenging and misunderstood. Many parents I speak to are near or in burnout at any given time, especially if they had kids before discovering their neurotype (which is common). This episode is based not on my experience as a parent, but my experience having spoken and heard from many AuDHD parents, and what I see working for them.This is in part a follow up to last week's interview with Julie M GreenMentioned in episode:Book Good Inside by Dr Becky Kennedy* (and her Instagram)AuDHD Flourishing resources:Transcript Doc (often a few weeks behind, but we do catch up!)Mattia's NewsletterLike Your Brain community space (Patreon/Discord)*affiliate link

  • 127 Diagnosed After My Kid with Julie M Green

    55:48|
    Julie M. Green is the author of Motherness: A Memoir of Generational Autism, Parenthood, and Radical Acceptance. She shares about how difficult early parenthood was, how different her autism presents versus her kid's, and navigating school and regulation skills.The book is a vulnerable look at some of the challenging and lighthearted moments of raising an autistic kid.Connect with Julie:Her book Motherness: A Memoir of Generational Autism, Parenthood, and Radical Acceptance Website: juliemgreen.caInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliem.greenSubstack: https://theautisticmom.substack.com/AuDHD Flourishing resources:Transcript Doc (often a few weeks behind, but we do catch up!)Mattia's NewsletterLike Your Brain community space (Patreon/Discord)*affiliate link

  • Surviving Out of Spite - Repost

    13:03|
    You deserve to survive this. Please stay.And if staying out of spite helps you, it has gotten me through some tough times.My Medium article, "Please Stay, We Need You"Repost of ep. 75Crisis Resources:USA-based anonymous crisis chatInternational crisis linesVarious types of crisis resources in about 10 countriesResources:Transcript DocEmail NewsletterLike Your Brain community space

  • 126 Slow Days Make Flow Days

    23:08|
    Flow is pleasant and often productive. It may also require some guardrails to be healthy for AuDHDers, especially those of us on the very monotropic side. It's often easy for us to get into flow and hyperfocus, and to stay in them until they stop feeling pleasant.Adding in more rest and recovery, including preparatory rest as needed, can really help!It's also okay to avoid flow states for a period of time, as I am right now for the most part.Do Less program for 2026 (starts Jan 15, reach out by Jan 7)Email mattia@mattiamauree.com with application answers, and/or any questionsAuDHD Flourishing resources:Transcript Doc (often a few weeks behind, but we do catch up!)Mattia's NewsletterLike Your Brain community space (Patreon/Discord)

  • 125 Autistic Play Saves Lives with Max Alexander

    58:54|
    Max Alexander is an artist and play worker who has mapped some common shapes of autistic play. He's passionate about neuro-affirming play for all ages.Play is both a healing tool, and can help prevent some of the effects of trauma (we touch on this lightly, a concept I learned from Linda Thai) One possible way to apply the play styles is noticing which ones speak to you, and which ones you're already engaging in, then leaning into those.The ebook is free, and it's a quick and excellent read!Apologies for the audio quality. Max was using a headset and didn't have an actual microphone, so I did the best I could to clean it upDo Less program for 2026 (starts Jan 15, reach out by Jan 7)Email mattia@mattiamauree.com with application answers, and/or any questionsConnect with Max:Max's book, The Joys and Shapes of Autistic PlayMax's Substack, Play RadicalAuDHD Flourishing resources:Transcript Doc (often a few weeks behind, but we do catch up!)Mattia's NewsletterLike Your Brain community space (Patreon/Discord)

  • 124 AuDHD Leadership Matters

    16:27|
    AuDHD leadership touches on last week's interview with Dr Megan Anna Neff. And it goes beyond the visible leadership of creating content, or being in the public eye.AuDHD leadership can includebeing your authentic selfvisibly meeting your sensory needssharing what helps you (whether or not it's advice)Mentioned in episode:- Do Less program for 2026 (starts Jan 15, reach out by Jan 7)Email mattia@mattiamauree.com with application answers, and/or any questions- Blog post with business episodesAuDHD Flourishing resources:Transcript Doc (often a few weeks behind, but we do catch up!)Mattia's NewsletterLike Your Brain community space (Patreon/Discord)